Variable speed rotary sprinkler



May 31, 1938.

W. A. BUCKNER VARIABLE SPEED ROTARY SPRINKLER Filed July 24, 1957 INVENTOR W122 A. .B LLCJCIZGJ" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE SPEED ROTARY SPRINKLER William A. Buckner, Fresno, Calif.

Application July 24, 1937, Serial No. 155,461

8 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary sprinklers having radially discharging nozzles adapted to rotate about a vertical axis at a relatively slow speed.

My principal object is to provide a sprinkler of 5 this character in which intermittent rotation is imparted to the sprinkler by the reaction of water issuing from one of the nozzles, with a means for controlling such rotation so that the sprinkler will have relatively fast and slow periods of rotation with each complete revolution of the sprinkler.

The sprinkler therefore is admirably adapted for use in connection with portable overhead sprinkling systems, in which a number of sprin klers are arranged in a row at fixed distances apart,

and adapted to be moved from time to time as a unit across the area being sprinkled, in a direction transversely of the row. With constant speed rotary sprinklers these must be moved apart a relatively small distance each time in order to provide the necessary sprinkling overlap of the relatively sparsely sprinkled areas parallel to the row and along the outermost zones of action of the difierent sprinklers.

My improved sprinkler construction enables the shifting movement of the unit to be increased considerably, since the row of sprinklers may be set in the unit so as to rotate at a relatively slow speed as the nozzles sprinkle such outermost zones, and thus deposit relatively great amounts of water thereon.

A further object is to provide a means for adjusting the speed as a whole, with the same water pressure. The sprinkler may also be readily adjusted so that it can be operated as a constant speed device. As the rotating means funcwill fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sprinkler.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the sprinkler comprises a vertical supporting member l adapted at its lower end for connection to a water supply 1 pipe.

A bearing sleeve 2 is mounted in the member and turnably engages a tubular spindle 3 which depends from the base l of the sprinkler head. This spindle is preferably mounted in the manner shown in detail in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 154,791, filed July 21, 1937.

The sprinkler head includes main and auxiliary nozzle arms 5 and 6 respectively extending in opposed relation from the base 4 at an upward angle and having jet elements 1 at their outer ends. The water from the element 1 of the arm 6 discharges through a water deflecting passage member 8 of box-like form in section and having a side opening 9 at its outer end from which the water discharges with a reactionary effect. The member .8 normally extends substantially in alinement with the arm 6 beyond the jet element and at its jet end is formed with an internal angular deflecting vane l disposed on the vertical side of the member opposite the opening 9, and normally projecting into the path of the water issuing from the jet and close to the same.

The member 8 is fixed on a depending arm II which extends along and under the nozzle 6 and at its lower end is secured on a collar l2. This collar is turnably mounted on a horizontal stem l3 projecting from the adjacent side of the sprinkler head base under the arm 6. Another arm 14 rigid with the collar extends from the same below the stem to a termination in overlapping relation to the exposed portion of the spin- An adjustable stop screw l 5, normally substantially radial of the spindle and at right angles to the arm 6, is mounted in theouter end of the arm l4 and normally engages the spindle. A helical torsion spring I6 is connected between the collar I2 and the base 4 and exerts its action in a direction to hold the screw l5 abutted against the spindle, and the deflecting member 8 in a normal position relative to the nozzle arm 6 as above described.

By reason of this construction it will be seen that water entering the deflecting member and engaging the vane I I; will cause the member to be deflected laterally, swinging the arm I 4 about the stem l3 and increasing the tension of the spring l6. Water issuing from the opening 9 thus exerts a reactionary rotative action on the sprinkler head through the connected parts, the head of courseturning in a direction away from the opening 9 or in thesame directionas the movement of member 8. A rotative impulse is thus imparted to thesprinkler head momentarily, since as soon as the member 8 is moved clear of the flow of water issuing from the jet, the spring H5 at once acts to return said member to its initial position, and the screw l5 to bump against the spindle. When this occurs the defleeting member is again engaged and moved by the water and so on as long as water under pressure is issuing from the jet. This bumping of the screw against the spindle, light as it may be, continually occurring with each oscillation of the arm and deflecting member, tends to keep the spindle from sticking.

With this arrangement of parts the speed of the sprinkler head about the spindle is constant as long as the water pressure is constant, and such speed may be altered by adjusting the screw l5. This is because such adjustment allows the spring [6 to move the deflecting member 8 relative to the nozzle arm so that the deflecting vane I0 projects a greater or lesser distance into the path of Water issuing from the jet, and thus the Water exerts a greater or lesser deflecting action on the member, imparting a strong or weak impulse thereto as the case may be.

The variable speed of rotation of the sprinkler head, irrespective of the water pressure or the setting of the screw I5, is accomplished by the use of the following additional parts. Projecting transversely of the sprinkler head under the spring l6 and nozzle 6 from and under the arm [4 is another arm l'l, adjustably clamped on said arm M for rotation in a horizontal plane by a pivot bolt l8. On the side of the sprinkler head opposite the arm l4, said arm l'l is formed with a strike plate [9 extending substantially parallel to the arm 6 in one direction and normally spaced I laterally from but adapted to engage a movement limiting cam 20. This cam is fixed'on the sleeve 2 in surrounding relation to the same and is of substantially oval form in symmetrical relation to the axis of the spindle. By so shaping the cam, at opposed points in its peripheral extent it is of course considerably closer to the plate l9 than at intermediate points. The level of the plate l9 relative to the 'cam 20 is such that when said plate is lowered by the lateral deflection of the member 8, and the swinging of the arm unit on the stem l3, said plate will engage the cam and prevent further deflecting movement of the member 8 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

By reason of the oval shape of the cam as above described, it will be obvious that the extent of movement of the deflector away from its normal position will vary as the sprinkler head rotates, according to the distance of the corresponding portion of the cam from the normal position of the strike plate. The oscillations of the deflector are thus recurringly long and short, and since the actual speed of rotation of the sprinkler depends on and is in direct proportion to the number of oscillations of the deflector in a given period, it will be seen that when the" strokes 'of the oscillating deflector are short it will return toits normal position quicker than when they are long, and a greater number of rotative impulses will be imparted to the sprinkler head in a given period.

When mounting a number of the sprinklers in unitary relation in a row therefore for shifting transversely of the row, they are disposed so that the major axis of the cam of each sprinkler extends at right angles to the row. The nozzles when likewise extending substantially at right angles to the row with the rotation of the corresponding sprinklers are then subjected to relatively infrequent rotative impulses due to the position of the strike plate l9 relative to the cam then obtained. As a result more water will then be discharged onto the areas furthest from the row than over the areas between adjacent sprinklers, when the sprinklers are subject to rapidly recurring rotating impulses.

If at any time the variable speed feature is not wanted, it is only necessary to withdraw the bolt l8 and remove the arm I! and the strike plate IS, the sprinkler then operating as a constant speed device as previously explained.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a jet opening, a water deflecting vane normally projecting into the path of water issuing from the jet opening, the vane being disposed relative to the flow of water so as to be swung in one direction when the vane is struck by the water and with an impetus depending on the extent of normal projection of the vane into the path of the water, means mounting the vane on the member for oscillation and so that with recurring movements of the vane in said direction step-by-step rotation will be imparted to the sprinkler head, the number of impulses in a given period determining the arcuate extent of rotation of the head in such period, means to return the vane to its normal position after each such movement thereof, and means controlled by the rotation of the head to alter the number of impulsive movements of the vane at predetermined recurring points in each complete revolution of the head.

2. A rotary water sprinkler including a rotatable unit mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and including a sprinkler head having a radially extending nozzle member provided with a jet opening at its outer end, a substantially horizontal stem mounted on and projecting from the head under .and lengthwise of the member,

a water deflecting vane normally projecting into the path of water issuing from the jet opening in position to be moved laterally in one direction when struck by the water, and means to cause step-by-step rotation to be imparted to the head by such movement of the vane and including an arm rigid with the vane and turnable on the stem, a spring acting on the arm to return the vane to its normal position, and means between the arm and unit to limit the return action. of the spring.

3. A structure as in claim 2, in which said last named means includes another arm rigid with the first named arm and extending in depending relation to the stem and then horizontally to a termination alongside the unit on the side thereof opposite that from which the vane is moved by the water, and an adjustable screw in said last named arm engaging the unit when the vane is in its normal position.

4. A structure as in claim 2, with means functioning with the rotation of the unit to alter the possible movement of the vane in said one direction during evenly recurring arcuate portions of a complete revolution of the sprinkler unit.

5. A structure as in claim 2, with another arm rigid with said first named arm, a strike plate on said other arm, and a cam, of substantially oval form in a horizontal plane, mounted in a fixed position symmetrical with the axis of rotation of the sprinkler unit, the strike plate being disposed relative to the cam and to the vane so as l to engage the peripheral surface of the cam when the vane is moved in said one direction.

6. A structure as in claim 2, with a cam, of substantially oval form in a horizontal plane, nonrotatably mounted symmetrical to the axis of rotation of the sprinkler unit, a strike plate to engage but normally spaced from the cam and disposed relative to the vane to engage the cam when the vane is moved in said one direction by the Water, and means removably mounting the strike plate in rigid connection with the arm.

7. A structure as in claim 2, with a cam, of substantially oval form in a horizontal plane, nonrotatably mounted symmetrical to the axis of rotation of the sprinkler unit, a strike plate to in rigid connection with the arm for adjustment thereon in a direction to alter the normal spacing of the strike plate from the cam.

8. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a jet opening, means actuated by water issuing from the jet opening to impart recurring stepby-step rotation to the head, and means controlled by the rotative movement of the head to cause the number of rotative movements for a predetermined arcuate portion of each full revolution of the head to be increased over the number of rotative movements had for an adjacent arcuate portion of corresponding extent.

W'ILLIAM A. BUCKNER. 

